Closure assemblies



y 1961 T. WHEATLEY 2,982,437

CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7' 60/2701 W6 6 a f/ey INVENTOR.

I 4 Z {W ATTORNEVJ T. WHEATLEY CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1959 Thoma: Wfieaf/ey INVENTOR.

United States Patent:

CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES Thomas Wheatley, Houston, Tex., assignor to Mission lvgain ufactunng Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation 0 exas Filed Nov. 2, 1959, Ser; No. 850,172

Claims. (Cl. 220-46) This invention relates to closure assemblies for conduits and the like, and more particularly to closing assemblies, of the type generally referred to as blanking plugs for pipe or vessels for closing an opening therein.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 715,743, filed February 17, 1958, for Closure Assembly, now Patent No. 2,946,479, there is shown a blanking plug assembly in which the closure is held against the pipe or vessel by semi-circular clamping elements hinged at one end and held together by a bolt and nut at the other end. It was found in use that the closure tended to he more firmly held against the pipe adjacent the bolt and nut connection than adjacent the pivot.

0 2,982,437. Patented May 2,1961

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing the relationship of the semi-circular clamps and pivot pin as the clamps are moved into assembled position about the end closure;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the relationship of the clamps and pivot pin with the clamps sizpprogtching their fully made-up position shown in Figure Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the closure assembly.

The pipe or vessel to be closed is shown in dashed outline at 10 in Figure 5. A fitting 11 is preferably welded to the pipe or vessel and provides a part thereof. The

' pipe or tubular body 11 has formed thereon an external flange 12 having an end face 13. A groove 14 may be provided in the end face and an O-ring 15 positioned therein for sealing purposes.

A closure 16 is provided for cooperation with the body 11 to close the tubular body. This closure has an By this invention a structure is provided which insembly of the type referred to above in which the end closure is firmly held against the vessel or pipe on the side of the closure adjacent elements. V 7 7 Another object is to provide an end closure as in the preceding object,in which an adjustment is. provided which permits regulation of the "closing force on the end closure adjacent the pivot point of the clamping elements. Another objectis to provide a closure assembly of the type identified above in which the clamping elements'rrotateabout a pivot point for releasing and engaging the vessel and end closure, and in which this pivot point is effectively moved radially outwardly of the end closure during make-up of the clamps to insure a more uniform pressure about the entire circumference of the end closure.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification, the claims and the drawings.

In carrying out this invention a lost motion connection is provided between the semi-circular clamps and a fulcrum point is established radially outwardly beyond the lost motion connection about which the clamps rotate when the seal assembly is being made up.

In the drawings, wherein one illustrative form of this invention is shown, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure l is a view in end. elevation of a closure assembly constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating in dashed outline the position of the clamps when the closure assembly is released;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the pipe, end closure, and one of the clamps;

the pivot point of the clamping annular external flange 17 having an annular face 18 for cooperation with the end face 13 to seal between the closure and body. If desired, the O-ring 15 may be provided as above indicated to cooperate with annular face 18 in perfecting a seal between the tubular body and closure.

A pair of semi-circular clamps 19 and 20 are provided to encircle the two external flanges and urge them toward each other. Each of these clamps is channel-shaped in cross-section as best shown in Figure 2. The interior surfaces 21 and 22 of the channel-shaped members converge in a radially outward direction. In like manner the surfaces which they engage, being surfaces 23 and '24 on the external annular flanges 17 and, 12, respectively,

likewise converge in aradially outward direction so that as the two clamps are pulled together about the external flanges the external flanges will be wedged into firm con: tact with each other. i

Closures of this type are frequentlyemployedon large diameter lines and the structures are quiteheavy, vFor this reason, the end closure is preferably mountedon an arm 25 which is supported on a hinge member 26 carried by the body. Thearm 25 is carried on the hinge 26 by a pivotal connection 27. Also the clamps 19 and 20 m: pivotally supported on an arm 28 which is supported on the body 11. This support is provided by a pin 29 carried in arm 28 which extendsthrough each of the clamps 19 and 20. I

In order that the closing force on the end closure 16 approach equal pressure about its entire circumference, the effective position of the pivot pin 29 is moved radially outward from thelbody. In accomplishing this,

effect the connection; between the clamps and the pivot pin- 29 is provided by a slot-30in clamp 19 and a like slot 31 in clamp 20. These slots extend tangentially to the closure 16. These tangential slots permit the two ends of the clamps which are pinned together by the pivot 29 to move in a direction generally tangential to the end closure. As shown in Figure 5, a washer 32 overlies the clamps and a cotter pin 33 (Figure 1) secures the assembly in place. The washer is omitted in Figures 1, 3 and 4 for purposes of illustration.

With the lost motion connection provided by the slotted structure explained above, or by an equivalent lost motion connection, the efiective pivot may be moved radially outward by providing portions on the clamps which engage each other at a position radially outward from the pivot as the closure is being made up. Such portions may be'provided by the ear 34 on clamp 19 and car 35 on clamp 20. These ears have portions which engage each other to provide a fulcrum point. Such portions may be provided by the face 36 on ear 34 and by a screw 37 which extends through ear 35 and provides for adjustment of the fulcrum point. The lock nut 38 locks the screw 37 in position.

In operation the vessel or pipe may be opened with the clamps 19 and 20 in their dotted line positions as shown in Figure 1. 'At this time the end closure 16 is free to swing about pin 27 between open and closed position. In closing the assembly the closure 16 is placed in abutment with the body flange 12 and the two semi-circular clamps move together to a position clamping the closure firmly against the tubular body. Means for drawing the two clamps together may be provided in any desired manner, as by the bolt 39 and nut 41. The bolt 39 is pivotally secured to clamp 19 by pin 42 and, as best shown in Figure extends though an open slot 44 in the free end of clamp 20. Nut 41 bears against the clamp 20 in making up the closure.

As the clamps are moved into an initial position about the external flanges the two clamps will be pulled as far away from each other as possible about the pivot 29 as illustrated in Figure 3. As the nut 41 is tightened the end of the adjusted screw 37 abuts the surface 36 on ear 34 and the two clamps begin to pivot about this point of abutment. As the clamps are tightened the arms assume the position relative to pivot pin 29 shown in Figure 4. When the arms are fully tightened, they assume the position illustrated in Figure 1. It will be noted that in tightening the clamps the ends of the slots 30 and 31 begin in contact with the pivot pin 29, and when the nut 41 is fully tightened the ends of the slots are spaced some distance from the pivot pin 29. In this manner the portion of the clamps which engage the external flanges on the body and closure adjacent the pivot pin 29 are forced to move toward each other as the clamps are tightened. This exerts the desired pressure in the area of the pivot 29 urging the closure firmly against the tubular body to obtain a fairly even closure pressure about the entire circumference of the closure.

In opening the closure assembly the nut 41 is first backed oil? and the bolt 39 moved into the dotted line position relative to clamp 19 shown in Figure 1. The eccentric 43 which is positioned between the free ends of clamps 19 and 20 is then rotated to force the clamps ofi of the annular flange and permit opening of the closure 16.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure assembly comprising, a tubular body having an external annular flange forming an annular end face on the body, a closure having an external annular flange forming an annular face positioned to be engaged with said end face to close the body, a pair of semicircular clamps having portions generally channel-shaped in cross section to be positioned about and engage said external flanges, the internal surfaces of the legs of said channel-shaped portions and the surfaces of said external flanges which they engage converging in a radial- 1y outward direction, said clamps pivoted together at one end with a lost motion connection, ears carried by each clamp and extending radially outwardly beyond said lost motion connection, said cars having portions engaging radially outwardly beyond said lost motion connection as the free ends of the clamps are moved toward each other to provide a pivot point about which said clamps pivot in moving to fully made up position, and means for moving the free ends of the clamps toward each other.

2. A closure assembly comprising, a tubular body having an external annular flange forming an annular end face on the body, a closure having an external annular flange forming an annlar face positioned to be engaged with said end face to close the body, a pair of semi-circular clamps having portions generally channel-shaped in cross section to be positioned about and engage said external flanges, the internal surfaces of the legs of said channel-shaped portions and the surfaces of said external flanges which they engage converging in a radially outward direction, a pivot pin carried by the body, said clamps having slots in one end receiving said pivot pin to support the clamps on the body, said slots extending tangentially of the annular flanges when the closure assembly is fully made up, ears carried by each clamp and extending radially outward beyond said slots, said ears having portions engaging radially outwardly beyond said slots as the free ends of the clamps are moved toward each other to provide a pivot point about which said clamps pivot in moving to fully made up position, and means for moving the free ends of the clamps toward each other.

3. The closure assembly of claim 2 wherein one of said engaging portions of said cars is provided by an adjustable screw.

4. The closure assembly of claim 2 wherein a resilient seal is provided between said external annular flanges.

5. The closure assembly of claim 2 wherein the closure is pivotally supported on the body for movement be-. tween open and closed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,923 Mohler May 15, 1934 2,338,622 Cleveland et al. Jan. 4, 1944 2,655,397 Augspurger et al Oct. 13, 1953 2,689,141 Kiekhaefer Sept. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 74,742 Switzerland Apr. 2, 1917 

